release date: Sep. 1985
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,17]
producer: Mike Pickering
label: Factory Records - nationality: England, UK
3-track ep debut by Happy Mondays is the band's first release after being put on contract by Factory Records. Producer Mike Pickering worked as a DJ at The Haçienda dance and nightclub in Manchester, and he saw the band's potential after having listened to a demo-tape by the band, who at this point toured with New Order. At this point Happy Mondays is already a stable sextet consisting of the Ryder brothers: singer and guitarist Shaun and bassist Paul together with lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, drummer Gary Whelan, and dancer / percussionnist Bez [aka Mark Berry].
Musically, it's not yet the "baggy / madchester"-style they should later be associated with. Instead they play dance-friendly indie pop with bold stylistic elements from jangle pop. The ep has also been recognised as "The Delightful ep" with its title referring to the first and also easily best track of the release.
